Spanish police seize fake steward bibs and cloning devices in crackdown on attempts to steal Champions League final tickets as 100,000 Liverpool and Tottenham fans descend on Madrid
- Police in Madrid have seized fake steward bibs, imitation devices for ticket checks and false accreditations ahead of the Champions League final
- With 100,000 fans of Liverpool and Tottenham in the Spanish capital, demand for tickets has overwhelmingly outstripped supply
- UEFA has warned fans to be wary of fake tickets being circulated on the black market and attempts by scammers to defraud fans
Spanish police have seized fake steward bibs, imitation devices for the technical ticket check and false accreditations as demand for Champions League final tickets intensified.
With estimates claiming 100,000 fans have descended on Madrid for the all-Premier League clash between Liverpool and Tottenham the quest to get tickets – both clubs got less than 17,000 each – has become almost impossible.
UEFA issued a warning about fake tickets circulating on the black market and police have stepped up their clampdown on what is an organised attempt to defraud supporters or – at worst – steal their authentic tickets.
Thousands of Liverpool and Tottenham supporters have descended on Madrid for Saturday night’s Champions League final – but fans have been asked to be wary of fake tickets
A giant replica of the Champions League trophy in front of the royal palace in Madrid
Rumours swept the city that 4,000 official tickets would be released on Saturday morning but this has been dismissed by UEFA.
‘The Spanish police have seized fake steward bibs, fake devices for the technical ticket check, as well as fake accreditations,’ said a statement from European football’s governing body.
Saturday night’s final will take place at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid
Around 100,000 fans of the two English teams have descended on Madrid for the final
‘This makes us believe that an organised group of people, impersonating genuine stewards or officials might try to act as if they were conducting the visual or technical ticket check, with the aim of stealing tickets during such controls.
‘Supporters should therefore make sure they only show their tickets at the clearly marked check zones and not to individuals or small groups of people who could be wearing fake bibs and might approach them on the way to the stadium, outside of the official check zones.’